I've had low testosterone levels for several years and thinking of taking supplemental testosterone. Anyone here try it and did it make your bph better, worse, or have no effect?
Jim
Hey there Jim. I take Testim 50MG Gel once a day My prostate was a little inlarged before I started after 6 months my prostate was stopping the urine from coming out had to force myself Had a urolift done in april all is fine now. Don't know if there was anything conected to the Testim. Still on it and all is well Ken
A friend in America was prescribed a form of testosterone by one of his doctors. When another doctor later did blood tests she said that it was so thick due to that he was about ready to have a stroke.
In my early 60s became a couch potato and grumpy. Girlfriend was an RN so got a physical and labs and my testosterone was near zero. Went on monthly injections - now 300mg a month and I LOVE THEM....feel so much better emotionally - stable, settled. If I don't get in for the monthly shot get a tad grumpy from withdrawal. No clue how it effected my BPH but doc and insurance companies okay with it for ten years now. why should women get the benefit of hormone replacement therapy and not us guys? Love it!
It DOES make BPH symptoms worse, but it makes other things better. It's a balancing act. Find the dose that makes you feel well, and still allows you to pee.
Neal
Could you elaborate a little on how it made your BPH symptons worse? Thanks.
Thanks Ken. I know it's only one case, but not encouraging. Right now I've gotten to the point after two years of self catherization where my bladder has been rehabilitated to the point where instead of having to self catherize 6 times a day I only have to do it maybe once a week. Don't know what would happen to that progress if my prostate enlarged. Ironically, if I hadn't made progress and still was self-cathing daily, it would be an easier choice because the size of the prostate then wouldn't be as important. Now, the decision will be more difficult.
Jim
If you Google Testosterone and BPH you find medica articles like this
"Nobody knows the basic cause of BPH. Research shows that testosterone, the male hormone, or dihydrotestosterone, a chemical produced when testosterone breaks down in a man's body, may cause the prostate to keep growing. Another theory is that changes in the ratio of testosterone and estrogen (female hormone) as men age cause the prostate to grow. Scientists are sure, however, that obesity greatly increases the risk of BPH
Some over-the-counter medications for colds or allergies can drastically worsen BPH".
Benign prostatic hyperplasia University of Maryland Medical Center
I thought your first reply was based on personal experience with, but if I understand you correctly, your response was based on reading and research. At this point I'm more intrerested in personal experience but thanks anyway for the input.
Jim
Thanks Derek, again looking for personal experience here. I have read about the relationship between testosterone and prostate enlargement and it does bother me. That said, there is also data to suggest that prostate size and bph aren't always correlated. Also, testosterone helps build and firm up muscles and my hope is that it might have that effect on my detrusor muscles that have been weakened over the years.
Jim
Testosterone can be a very dangerous drug are you intending to self-administer or get it prescribed by a doctor who knows your medical history?
What is BPH but an enlarged prostate?
Again, looking for personal experience per the title of this thread, and of course I would get it from a doctor who knows my history, and surprised you would think that anyone in this forum would do otherwise.
Yes, BPH is a set of conditions caused by an enlarged prostate, BUT you can also have an enlarged prostate with few or no symptons of BPH. So, no, "BPH (is) but an enlarged prostate.
Jim
That was the impression I was getting.
Depends where the prostate is putting pressure.
I know someone who had a very small prostate that caused him to need to self catheterise until he had PVP.
Hey Jim don't take testosterone just do some research first.... stack up on vitamin d this helps growth gain in testosterone... and take hcg shots or pills it will help stimulate testosterone.... you want your body to naturally produce it... remember push ups ....I don't know ur age but try light weights first stimulate ur body first to see if u gain results...
In my case, I have been on testosterone therapy for several years monitored by a good endocrinologist in Florida. Also, over the last 4-5 years, I have had increasing symptoms of BPH, e.g. getting up more frequently at night, sometimes up to 8 times, difficulty initiating urination in the morning, frequency and urgency all day; and spraying rather than uninating in a stream, so that even though I was well aimed at the center of the pot, I have to wipe urine off the sides of it. Then last spring when my endocrinologist measured my levels, they were high, so we agreed to cut back some on my testosterone therapy. The result has been that the symptoms are better and my PSA is lower (about 2/10 point). They are still too bad, and rather than wait for other problems that others on this site have had, like bladder problems, and UTIs, I am scheduled for a PAE with Dr Isaacson in early December.
You have to decide, but if it were me, I would do a PAE,or Urolift, solve the problem, and stop the catheterization. It is painful, and a great opportunity to give yourself a UTI, or worse, a kidney infection.
Neal
Let me know how it goes I am 25 yrs I might get to but I don't know since I'm am scared to lose my sex life ...i have won the battle with prostatitis... I have two hydroceles both testicles and got epdidymitis took 5 different antibiotics and won the battle ....i used to be able to bust a load and keep a hard on not no more I feel that I have a blockage due to prostate or something else.. don't know if it low t or cause my testicle are slightly atrophy due to the hydroceles...idk but I am thinking of pae soon I'm just scared to lose my sex life..